The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
Trial by Jury To Be Abolished for Number
of 0ffenses and Local Magistrates Given
Power to Commit Convicted Criminals.
John Dillon Assails the Bill and Its
Author in a Fiery and Bitter Speech.
Rumor that Lord Carnarvon Is Organizing a
Bolt Against the Measure-General Feel
ing that Balfour Has Male Failure.
COERCION FOR THE GREEN ISLE.
Points Of Mr.. Balfour's New Bil-A Measul
of Great Stringency

COERCION FOR THE GREEN ISLE.
Points Of Mr.. Balfour's New Bill-A Measure
of Great Stringency.
LONDON, March 28.-In the House of Com
mons, Nr w. n. Smith gave information Of the
decision of the government to ask the House to
advance the Irish neutrality-suspicious. bill
to its second reading before the motion to ad
iourn the deliberations Of the House during the
Easter holidays should be made. The govern
ment, he said, staked its existence upon the sue
cess Of this measure, and was determined to
lose no time in pushing it through to final pas
sage.
Mr.. A. j. Balfour moved the first reading Of
the BILL and, referring to Mr.. Parnells amend
mert that the House required further informa-
tion as to the condition of Ireland before the in
PRODUCTION of the bill, said he thought the Par
| nellites were sufficiently informed already, and
should recognize the anarchy existing in Ire
| land, as an artisan recognizes work done by his
own hand. Speaking of the amount OF crime
to be considered, Mr.. Balfour said it was shown
in fact, and was matter of record, that the po-
| lice were now protecting, in Munster, 49S
persons; in Connaught. 175, and in Lein-
| ster 25l, and he read documents showing
that the number Of persons now charged with
criminal acts in Ireland bore no relation what
| ever to the amount Of crime, boycotting and in
timidation existing there to-day. These facts,
| he declared, were proven by the testimony of
| impartial and non partisan witnesses, and
| further evidence was shown In the fact that
| iuries had refused in the cearest possible cases.
| to convict criminals who because of the per-
| jured action Of the jurymen, were permitted to
| 60 free and repeat their crimes Mr.. Balfour
read long list of cases in support of his argu
ment, in which juries had wholly disregarded
| the evidence against criminals, and said this
sort of thing existed when the entire press of
Ireland, as we'll as portion OF England. held up
to public scorn jurymen who obeyed the laws.
and decided cases by the evidence presented.
| This kind of terrorism had completely
overturned the jury system in Ireland.
| The idea that the National League
| in any way whatsoever resembled trades
| unions, Mr.. Balfour secuted as too absurd for
| serious consideration. The first idea of the
League. he said, was to combine the plunder of
individuals with the destruction Of the Consti,u-
| tion. Mr.. Balfour then stated the proposals
contained in the bill. the provisions of which
had been borrowed from the Scotch system of
|
nesses on oath, even when no persons are
charged with crime. To meet the difficulty of
obtaining verdicts, the government proposed to
abolish the jury system altogether sor certain
classes of crime, the magistrate to have juris-
diction in such cases. with the maximum power
| of condemning convicted criminals to six
months imprisonment The cases coming un-
der this provision are conspiracy, boycottiug,
rioting, offensss under the Whiteb oy act as
saulting of officers Of the law. forcible and un-
lawful possession, and melting to commit any
of these offenses
Mr.. Balfour declared that the government had
no intention to abrdge the liberty of the press.
and hoped that the law Furnishing the Indictment
of offenses would be sufficient to prevent the
press from sharing the crimes committed. The
bill permits change of venue for the trial OF
graver charges and such cases, when proposed
by the Attorney general of England or Ireland
should certify to that effect when tairer tria
} could be had in England Irish counsel viii bt
permitted TO appear in English courts in these
! cases. The cases triable in England, which are
murder and other aggravated crimes purely po
litical such treason, seditious libel, ETC., ar,
excluded from the bill, and in all cases the pro
/ districts Only. The proclamation of associatio,
must be submitted to Parliament within sever
days after issuance. and if Parliament shall fai
to approve condem it, the proclamation viii
Q be abandoned. Concluding. Mr.. Balfour sait
/ the operation of tho bill will not be limited t
\ any fixed time The bill was framed in tn
cause of liberty, and he asked the House to los
0 | no time IN relieving Ireland Of the yoke unde
| which she is groaning.
e Mr. Dillon followed Mr.. Balfour. He sal
q that this bill would never pass into law. Iris
Q cheers.] If he believed that the people of Enc
Y land were capable of sanctioning the measure
{ he would give up forever the hope of seeing tn
g Irish and the English shake hands. The Iris
b people would be slaves, indeed, if they sui
d mitted to it. Either he would leave a countr
J, where no Irishman could live unless he live
f like slave, or if the people were willing,
Q would be proud and happy to lead them in ba
tie. Cheers. The measure could only resu
t in causing increased disorganization and drivin
a the people back to the horrors of former year:
Z TCheers.I Earl Spencer, believing his life to
n in DANGER had the courage to face the people {
h Ireland like man; but small credit was due
Q the present government, who did not know th
h the dangers they were facing lCries of "Oh
o .'Oh' and cheers More miserable excuses o
l. which to found coercion had never been heart
). Mr.. Balfour had succeeded in proving nothin!
8 but his own ignorance of the country which h
h sought to govern. The sooner he Quilted offis
!. the better for Ireland and for himself. The GO
II ernment were practically treating Irishmen lii
e slaves. They sought to root them ont like We
% min. The government offered them the pro
4 pec' Oh !asoraos iana.pnrcnase OIL .n
coercion bill passed. neither land-purchase bi